Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Brighton, Michigan, January 21, 1989
On January 21, 1989 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N3536M, was destroyed in an accident near Brighton, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INSTALLATION OF AN IMPROPER OIL DRAIN VALVE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD 81-11-02/R1), RESULTING IN SUBSEQUENT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR AND OIL DRAIN VALVE. THIS CAUSED THE VALVE TO MOVE OPEN & LEAK, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1989 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N3536M · registry record · serial 28R7837121
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN HE NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE WAS DECREASING RAPIDLY. HE ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING, BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED BEFORE HE COULD REACH THE SELECTED AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A WHEELS UP LANDING. INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND THE ACFT HIT A BERM BEFORE SLOWING TO A STOP. AN EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED AN OIL (QUICK) DRAIN VALVE (AEROQUIP PN: AE80664H) HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON 7/10/87. IT WAS INSTALLED WITH A 4-3/8 INCH HOSE THAT EXTENDED BELOW THE ENGINE RESERVOIR, IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING GEAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DRAIN VALVE WAS PUSHED OPEN BY MOVEMENT OF THE LANDING GEAR AS IT WAS BEING RETRACTED. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF OIL & SUBSEQUENT ENGINE SEIZURE. THIS DRAIN VALVE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR INSTALLATION ON THIS MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. PIPER SERVICE LETTER 910 & AD 81-11-02/R1 SPECIFIED USE OF ANOTHER VALVE (PIPER PN: 492-172V).
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 674 hours in all; 268 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 569 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1988; 119 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: JXN Jackson MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from LAN, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.